Funding for common education, higher education and career education is at an all time high. We have funded more chairs in the higher education system than ever before, and this budget proposes to fund more,
particularly in the technology areas, science and mathematics, in those areas where we are starved for available workers in Oklahoma to fill available jobs.
Source: State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature
Feb 5, 2001
Supported largest teacher pay raise in state history
Last year, together, we passed the largest pay raise in state history for teachers. No great surprise, our ACT scores have now defeated every state in the south. We have defeated Texas in something other than football for a change.
Our ACT scores now beat Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, all of the states in the south. We have the number one ACT high school in the United States at the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, of which we are very, very proud.
Source: State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature
Feb 5, 2001
$80M in block grants to schools
Today I propose a revolutionary system of block grants for schools that will encourage and reward success. These block grants [total] $80 million in three different areas:
“Matching grants” to schools that cut administrative overhead and devote
more dollars to spending in the classroom.
“Reward grants” to recognize and support schools where learning is the focus.
“Improvement grants,” to help districts achieve better performance and accountability to move toward the model, what I
describe as a 21st Century School Model.
Now, what will qualify for these grants?
Are you offering and are you requiring that each student take six academic hours a day?
Do you offer and do you require four years each of math, science,
English, and social studies for every student?
Have you ended social promotion?
Is more money flowing to the classroom and less money going to administrative overhead?
And most importantly of all, are your students learning?
Source: State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature
Feb 5, 2001
